Tybee Island in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Tybee Island
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Tybee Island was named by the Indians who came from the interior to hunt and fish. Settled since the beginning of the colony of Georgia, it was the scene in 1775 of the first capture by the first Provincial vessel commissioned by any Congress in America for naval warfare in the Revolution, when a Georgia schooner captured an armed British vessel laden with military stores. In 1776 the royal Governor, Sir James Wright, broke his parol [sic] and escaped to a British man of war in Tybee Roads. The Council of Safety ordered all Tybee houses sheltering British officers and Tories destroyed and a raid on the Island by the Patriot forces accomplished this purpose.
In 1779 a large French fleet under Count d'Estaing anchored off Tybee for two months during the siege of Savannah by the French and American forces. In the War Between the States, Federal troops erected batteries here for the reduction of nearby Fort Pulaski. Troops were trained on Tybee Island during both World Wars.
Erected 1958 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 025-62.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1775.
Location. 32° 1.307′ N, 80° 50.664′ W. Marker is on Tybee Island, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker is on Meddin Drive, on the right when traveling north. Located at Fort Screven parking lot opposite the Tybee Island Lighthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tybee Island GA 31328, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Middle Passage and Tybee Island, Georgia (here, next to this marker); The Middle Passage UNESCO Site of Memory Tybee Island, Georgia Routes of Enslaved Peoples: (a few steps from this marker); The Unesco Routes of Enslaved Peoples: (a few steps from this marker); Henry Sims Morgan (a few steps from this marker); The Loss of the HMS Otranto October 1918 (within shouting distance of this marker); H.M.S. Otranto and Fort Screven (within shouting distance of this marker); Tybee Island Wade-Ins (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Henry Sims Morgan (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tybee Island.
Also see . . . Tybee Island Wikipedia entry. Tybee Island is the easternmost point in the state of Georgia, home to the first of what became the Days Inn chain of hotels, the oft-photographed Tybee Island Light Station and the Fort Screven Historic District. (Submitted on July 7, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 825 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 11, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.